Question and Answer

How does a man come to study for the ministry?

Question:

How does a young man, from humble circumstances, come to study for the gospel ministry? This is asked in light of an absence of financial resources at my disposal and my church's.

Answer:

It is difficult to answer without knowing you. I would encourage you to seek the advice of others close to you and who know you, whose judgment you trust, like a pastor or someone else with theological training.

Having been involved for many years in training pastors, I can say, from a number of instances I have witnessed, that where there is a desire to study for the gospel ministry undertaken with prayer and careful self-searching before the Lord and with the wise counsel of others who confirm that that desire is warranted, the Lord will provide a way and the resources for that study to be realized.

About Q&A

"Questions and Answers" is a weekly feature of the OPC website. At least one new question is posted each week, so there should always be something new here for you to read. (For those who would like to look at previous questions and answers, they will continue to be available as well.)

The questions come from individuals like yourself. If you have questions about biblical and theological matters, you are invited to send them by e-mail by using the "Pose a Question" link on the OPC home page or by clicking here.

The purpose of the OPC website's "Questions and Answers" is to respond to biblical and theological questions. Matters of church discipline, disputes, or debates go beyond the scope of our work. We recommend that you present your concerns in these areas to the appropriate judicatory. In most cases this will be to a local pastor, elder, or session. We do not want the website to replace personal involvement in, or commitment to, the local, visible church.

While we will respond to every serious questioner, we are not bound to give a substantive answer to every question, should we deem the question to be beyond the scope of our purpose or our own ability to answer.

You will receive an answer by email. Please be patient as many of our respondents are busy pastors. The response to your question may take up to two weeks. Some of the questions submitted will be chosen to be posted here, along with the corresponding answers.

The answers come from individual ministers in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church expressing their own convictions and do not necessarily represent an "official" position of the Church, especially in areas where the Standards of the Church (the Scriptures and the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms) are silent.

Note that the "Questions and Answers" posted on the site have been editedall personal references are removed, Scripture references may be added, and sometimes portions are expandedto make the questions and answers more useful to a larger audience.